Daily catholic Reflection: Tuesday, November 14, 2023, Tuesday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

Wis 2:23–3:9

Ps 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19

Luke 17:7- 10                 Full Readings

Saint Gertrude the Great

 Humble and True Christian Service

Imagine the context in which this attitude toward Christian service must be spoken and lived. For example, imagine a mother who spends the day cleaning and then preparing the family meal.  At the end of the day, it is certainly nice to be recognized for her hard work and to be thanked for it.  Of course, when the family is grateful and acknowledges this loving service, this gratitude is healthy and is nothing other than an act of love.  It is good to be grateful and to express it. But today's gospel is not so much about the fact that we must strive to be grateful for the love and service of others, rather, it’s about our own motivation for service. Our intention for service and charity should be to fulfill our duty to love God above all things and love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:33). In this way, we will be “unprofitable servants.”  We obtain the strength and willpower to do our duty when our goal is to love God with our whole heart. We do not serve for our own gain, but for God’s glory.  Do you serve so as to be thanked?  Or do you provide service because it is good and right to serve?

Daily Catholic Reflection: Monday, November 13, 2023, Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin, Year A

Wis 1:1-7

Ps 139:1b-3, 4-6, 7-8, 9-10

Lk 17:1-6                            Full Readings

Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini 

Don't Cause Anyone to Sin

Today, Jesus speaks of three forces at work in our lives - the power of the temptation to sin and cause harm, the power of forgiveness for harmonious living together in the community, and lastly the power of faith to overcome obstacles and difficulties that stand in the way of loving God and our neighbor.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Sunday, November 12, 2023, Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Wisdom 6: 12-16,

Psalm 63:2.3-4.5-6.7-8,

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18,

Matthew 25:1 -13                 Full Readings

Saint Josaphat 

The Wise Versus the Fool

Brethren, the coming of the Bridegroom, Jesus, to meet his bride, the church, will prove whether we are wise or foolish in the things of God. Jesus, on his part, needs and wishes us to be wise and prudent in striving for the kingdom of God more than the children of the world are in dealing with their own generation, "for the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light" (Luke 16:8). Who are the wise and the Fools? The wise are those who, embracing the time available to them, are found prepared at the first onset of the coming of the Lord. But the foolish were those who are lax and unmindful. They trouble themselves only over present matters and, forgetting what God said, do not direct their efforts toward hope for resurrection (Hilary of Poitiers). Jesus needs us to be prepared so that when he comes to meet us, we are found worthy to be married to him eternally to him, savouring his goodness and sweetness forever. This theme runs through today's readings.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Friday, November 10, 2023, Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church

Rom 15:14-21

Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4

Lk 16:1-8                 Full Readings

Saint Leo the Great

Shrewdness for attaining the Kingdom of God

Brethren, today's Gospel, if taken literally, may be shocking. Jesus seemed to praise a steward (a manager entrusted with his master's goods) who misused his employer's money. What did the steward do that made Jesus praise him? The steward was responsible for managing his wealthy landowner's property. The steward very likely overcharged his master's tenants for their use of the land and kept more than his fair share of the profit. When the landowner discovered the steward's dishonest practice, he was to immediately remove him from his job, leaving him penniless and ashamed to beg or do manual work. The servant acting shrewdly, he reduces the debts of the other servants so that they will welcome him after he had been stripped off his job and the master praised him for acting shrewdly.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Tuesday, November 7, 2023, Tuesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

Rom 12:5-16ab

Ps 131:1bcde, 2, 3

Lk 14:15-24                                Full Readings

Saint Didacus

Responding to God's Invitation

Today we read Luke's version of the king who invited the guests for a wedding feast and when the time for the wedding reached, none of the invited guests would turn up. The king out of anger and disappointment sent his servants to collect anyone from the city, for the feast had to take place. Today we are also invited to that feast. The king represents God, and the invited guests are we, his people. God is always inviting us, not forcing us to commune with him. Are you ready to commune with him or you are going to give excuses? Let us be humble and respond to his invitation.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Sunday, November 5, 2023, Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Mal 1:14b-2:2b, 8-10

Ps 131:1, 2, 3

1 Thes 2:7b-9, 13

Mt 23:1-12                                Full Readings

Saint Peter Chrysologus

Practice What You Preach

Brethren, the world needs witnesses more than it needs teachers. It’s easy to remind others how things should be done; it is much harder to give witness of an authentic Christian life. One thing is content, and the other is personal example. When someone tells us the truth, we should accept it – even if that person doesn’t live the truth he preaches and thus the saying of Jesus, "The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice." Our following the truth should not depend on whether or not others live it. But there is a warning for us who are the teachers of the gospel and the truth. Thus, if we find ourselves in a position in which we have the responsibility of preaching or teaching catechism, we should sincerely try to live up to the doctrine that we preach, which is not ours but God’s.

Daily Catholic Reflection: Saturday, November 4, 2023, Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop

Rom 11:1-2a, 11-12, 25-29

Ps 94:12-13a, 14-15, 17-18

Lk 14:1, 7-11                                     Full Readings

Saint Charles Borromeo

Let Others Exalt You

Brethren, Shame is an emotion which only those who are well-off can afford; the destitute cannot afford it! Today’s gospel text teaches us about simple etiquette. Jesus tells us that no one takes honour upon himself, but other people, seeing how worthy and humble you are, give you the honour you deserve. It also speaks to us about how we understand positions of authority. You do not assume positions of authority because you feel your status should earn you such positions, we should wait a little and reflect, anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted.